By Mabel Pais
ASIAN AMERICAN CONTENDERS
Karishma Dev Dube’s ‘BITTU’
Shalini Kantayya’s ‘CODED BIAS’
Geeta Gandbhir’s ‘CALL CENTER BLUES’
Among OSCAR Contenders
A-DOC: ASIAN AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY NETWORKAND OYEATMF
TEAM UP TO CELEBRATE A HISTORIC YEAR
FOR ASIAN AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY AWARDS CONTENDERS
OF TALKBACKS, INTERVIEWS AND CONVERSATIONS
FEATURING NON-FICTION DIRECTORS/PRODUCERS
17 FEATURES AND 5 SHORT FILMS
QUALIFIED FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AND SHORT AWARDS
The awards season is in full swing and this year, Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) documentary filmmakers represent a record number of 17 features and 5 short films that are now recognized as documentary awards contenders. This weekend, ‘A-DOC’: ‘Asian American Documentary Network’ – which works to increase the visibility and support of Asian Americans in the documentary field and the virtual cinema screening platform ‘Open Your Eyes & Think MF’ (OYEATMF) are teaming up to highlight some of this year’s AAPI documentary awards contenders with interviews and fireside chats online through their respective You Tube channels.
From Saturday January 30 and continuing through Monday, February 1, their respective online channels featured virtual discussions/talkbacks with this year’s impressive group of AAPI filmmakers including Hao Wu, Ramona S. Diaz, Bao Nguyen, Richard Lui, Yung Chang, Ursula Liang, S. Leo Chiang, Diane Quon, Jiayan “Jenny” Shi, Carol Nguyen, Jeff Orlowski, Yi Chen, Elizabeth Lo, Annie Katsura Rollins, Joanna Vasquez Arong and more.
Log in to their YouTube channels for these conversations and celebrate the ASIAN AMERICAN DOC FILMMAKERS CONTENDERS 2021 at youtube.com/channel/UCO5696sLJohYRwT7uPK_Cag
Watch videos about A-Doc and OYEATMF
A-DOC bit.ly/adoc-youtube
OYEATMF bit.ly/39u0iua
ABOUT: A-DOC: ASIAN AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY NETWORK
A-Doc is a national network that works to increase the visibility and support of Asian Americans in the documentary field. Asian American documentary filmmakers who have come together as one, multi-generational force to advocate for our vital presence in the field. A-DOC is committed to sharing ideas and resources, providing mutual support and mentorship, and advocating for equity and diversity in the production and distribution of non-fiction storytelling.
ABOUT: OPEN YOUR EYES AND THINK MF – OYEATMF
Established in 2020 by film publicists David Magdael and Vince Johnson, OPEN YOUR EYES AND THINK MF supports films and filmmakers that may not fit within the current distribution and exhibition system. The goal is to provide access to films that are challenging and changing the landscape of truth telling and story creation. These include BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and other content creators who are on the margins. OYEATMF provides exhibition opportunities, resources, and the creation of meaningful discussions for and by filmmakers who are challenging us to think.
2021 FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES
2021 FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES
DIRECTED AND/OR PRODUCED BY AAPI FILMMAKERS
76 DAYS
A THOUSAND CUTS
A WOMAN’S WORK: THE NFL’S CHEERLEADER PROBLEM
ASWANG
BE WATER
BELLY OF THE BEAST
CODED BIAS
THE DONUT KING
DOWN A DARK STAIRWELL
FINDING YINGYING
FIRST VOTE
KID FROM CONEY ISLAND
OUR TIME MACHINE
SKY BLOSSOM
THE SOCIAL DILEMMA
STRAY
THIS IS NOT A MOVIE
2021 SHORT DOCUMENTARIES
DIRECTED AND/OR PRODUCED BY AAPI FILMMAKERS
CALL CENTER BLUES
NO CRYING AT THE DINNER TABLE
PANDEMIC19
SING ME A LULLABY
TO CALM THE PIG INSIDE
Watch the A-DOC video: youtu.be/MpAhg6yRvIE
Best Documentary Short:
BITTU
HUNGER WARD
TO CALM THE PIG INSIDE
ASHES TO ASHES
NO CRYING AT THE DINNER TABLE
EDDY’S WORLD
PANDEMIC19
CHURCH AND THE FOURTH ESTATE
THE WAY HOME
MAKING THE CASE
Best Documentary Feature:
A THOUSAND CUTS
BEDLAM
FEELS GOOD MAN
FINDING YINGYING
HUMAN NATURE
THE MOLE AGENT
- SOUL!
MUCHO AMOR
NASRIN
REWIND
OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE
OUR TIME MACHINE
SKY BLOSSOM
SOFTIE
THROUGH THE NIGHT
OTHER DOCUMENTARY SHORTS CONTENDERS
(Non-Asian films/filmmakers):
ALIVE: Dir. Jimmy Olsson
ANNA: Dir. Dekel Berenson
MOLOKA’I BOUND: Dir. Alika Maikau
CHUBBY: Dir. Madeleine Sims-Fewer
NO MORE WINGS: Dir. Abraham Adeyemi
EVERYBODY FLIES: Dir. Captain Tristan Loraine
WHITE GOLD: Dir. Luke Bradford
TURNED: Dir. Anders Walter
DA YIE: Dir. Anthony Nti
ALINA: Dir. Rami Kodeih
PROXY: Dir. Sophia Banks
WHITE EYE: Dir. Tomer Shushan
MATRIOCHKAS: Dir. Berangere McNeese
3 FEET: Dir. Giselle Geney
AFTER CLASS: Dir. Charles Xiuzhi Dong
BIRTH RIGHT: Dir. Inbar Horesh
REBEL: Dir. Pier-Phillippe Chevigny
A WHITE HORSE: Dir. Shaun O’Connor
Short List: FEATURES via DOC NYC
76 DAYS
Dir: Hao Wu, Weixi Chen, Anonymous
BOYS STATE
Dir/Prod: Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine
COLLECTIVE
Dir/Prod: Alexander Nanau
CRIP CAMP
Dir/Prod: Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht
DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD
Dir/Prod: Kirsten Johnson
THE FIGHT
Dir/Prod: Elyse Steinberg, Josh Kriegman, Eli Despres
GUNDA
Dir: Victor Kossakovsky
I AM GRETA
Dir: Nathan Grossman
MLK/FBI
Dir: Sam Pollard
ON THE RECORD
Dir/Prod: Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering
THE SOCIAL DILEMMA
Dir: Jeff Orlowski
A THOUSAND CUTS
Dir/Prod: Ramona S. Diaz
TIME
Dir/Prod: Garrett Bradley
THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS
Dir/Prod: Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw
WELCOME TO CHECHNYA
Dir/Prod: David France
Short List: SHORTS presented via DOC NYC
Abortion Helpline, This Is Lisa
Dir/Prod: Barbara Attie, Janet Goldwater, Mike Attie
Ashes to Ashes
Dir: Taylor Rees
Call Center Blues
Dir: Geeta Gandbhir
Do Not Split
Dir/Prod: Anders Hammer
Flower Punk
Dir/Prod: Alison Klayman
Hunger Ward
Dir/Prod: Skye Fitzgerald
A Life Too Short
Dir: Safyah Usmani
A Love Song for Latasha
Dir/Prod: Sophia Nahli Allison
No Crying at the Dinner Table
Dir/Prod: Carol Nguyen
Now Is the Time
Dir: Christopher Auchter
Sing Me a Lullaby
Dir/Prod: Tiffany Hsiung
Then Comes the Evening
Dir/Prod: Maja Novaković
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness)